🎓#13 Salutatorian - Abbey Grace Hendrickson
➡️Next Steps: University of Tulsa
📚Field of Studies: Sports and Exercise Science
🦓zZebra Since Seventh-grade
🔴What advice would you give your freshman self? Don't be afraid to get involved! Schoolwork is important, so do your very best, but make sure to balance it with your social life. The friendships you create will only enhance the high school experience.
🔴What has this journey taught you about yourself? This journey has taught me that hard work always pays off. I have shown myself that I can do hard things and that I am capable of accomplishing my goals.
🔴What were the hardest challenges you had to overcome to achieve this honor? Learning how to balance a large workload in addition to my extracurricular activities was the biggest challenge I faced in high school.
🔴What does this accomplishment mean to you? Earning the title of salutatorian means that all my years of hard work and perseverance have paid off.
🔴What are you most proud of in your high school career? I am most proud of my academic successes, along with my involvement in clubs, sports, and my community. I am well-rounded and participate in a wide variety of activities. I am proud of my involvement and excellence in various activities all throughout my high school career.
🔴Looking back on your school experience at CPS, what does being a Zebra mean to you? Being a zebra means being a part of a family that pushes one another to success. The Claremore community is a tight-knit, caring community like no other that is eager to help anyone and everyone they can. There is no other place I would have rather spent my junior high and high school years.
🔴What elementary staff member made the biggest impact on your life and how? My mom, Jill Hendrickson, was my kindergarten teacher at Legacy Christian School. Her influence in my life as not only my mom, but also as an educator, shaped my work ethic and desire to succeed. She taught me to always try my best in whatever I did. She would always tell me "in whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God". From making me stay late after school to practice counting change, to helping me with college essays, my mom has been there through it all. I could not be more grateful for her as my mom and as my teacher. She continues to teach me every day, and I have so much to learn from her.
🔴What junior high staff member made the biggest impact on your life, and how? Mrs. Crabtree at Will Rogers Junior High taught me how to write an essay, which has proven to be very helpful and important in my life. She was a great teacher and taught me the importance of using my words to express myself.
🔴What high school staff member made the biggest impact on your life, and how? Ms. Golbek has made a significant impact in my life. She pushed me to do my best and to never give up, even when my efforts seemed to be made in vain. Because of her willingness to see me succeed, I have become more confident in my own abilities in both academics and everyday life. She invested in me like no other teacher has and helped me to believe that I can achieve whatever I set my mind to. She taught me the importance of perseverance and dedication. Ms. Golbek is one of the most selfless and caring people I know. I have never had a teacher so willing to go above and beyond for her students like she does. I will never forget how she made me feel cared for and valued during my time at Claremore High School, not only as a student but as an individual.
🔴What activities have you been involved in? AP/Pre-AP Programs, Athletic Training, Christian Club, FUZE, Math Club, National Honor Society, Student Council, Zebra Track and Field, and the Career Development Program.
🔴What is the one thing you will absolutely take with you to college? I will absolutely take my phone with me to college so that I can call my mom and dad.
Awards / Honors / Scholarships
She is a recipient of the Claremore Alumni Scholarship, the Pathway to Sports Academy Scholarship, and the TU Academic Scholarship. She has also received many Z-Awards, was part of the Oklahoma Honors Society, and was a student of the month.
Abbey’s signing off the reminder: “Go Zebras!” #cpszebrapride